After years of watching Alexa struggle with basic tasks and conversations, I finally got my hands on the much-anticipated Alexa+. Amazon first announced this update back in September 2023, but its launch was delayed due to various technical issues. Now that I've had early access, I’m here to share my experience with the new and improved voice assistant.

So, what's the verdict? Alexa+ has certainly made strides in conversational abilities, surpassing its predecessor by a mile. However, when lined up against AI heavyweights like ChatGPT, it’s clear that there is still room for improvement.

A Fresh Start with Alexa+

Initially, when I dabbled with Alexa+, I was excited to see how it performed in the usual tasks I once relied on. From playing music to getting the latest weather updates, I was eager to see if it could keep up with my expectations. To my surprise, the conversational flow was smoother than before, yet I still found myself frequently having to prompt Alexa by name during conversations—something that could be irritating in everyday use.

Music Issues and Awkward Exchanges

Trying to play Spotify was a hit-or-miss experience. I had to explicitly say I wanted music to play on the specific device I was using. During my testing on the Echo Show, Alexa claimed Spotify was playing when it wasn't. I assumed it might be playing on another device, but after poking around in the app for too long, I felt defeated. It’s puzzling for a smart assistant to stutter over such a basic function.

Moreover, I encountered some oddly frustrating moments. I once asked Alexa to slow down her speech while I jotted down notes, only for her to speed up dramatically instead. It was both comical and infuriating!

New Features that Flash Potential

Despite these hiccups, Alexa+ features some intriguing actions. For instance, I experimented with having Alexa generate images based on verbal prompts—an unexpected delight. I also tried to make a restaurant reservation, but sadly, Alexa couldn’t assist since the restaurant didn't partner with OpenTable. Instead, I was given the phone number, which was less than ideal.

However, booking an Uber via voice command worked perfectly, and I could browse soccer tickets with ease—albeit I still questioned whether talking to a virtual assistant was genuinely more efficient than just pulling out my phone.

Managing Household Chaos

Another significant upside is Alexa+’s capability in managing family calendars and smart devices. Being able to create nuanced routines—like dimming lights and locking doors with a single command—could drastically simplify daily tasks, something Panos Panay, Amazon’s new head of Alexa, passionately emphasized.

Amazon's Future with Alexa+

With emerging competition from AI ventures and even ex-Apple designers collaborating with ChatGPT, Amazon's strategy seems crucial. Although Panay hinted they've got more features lined up and that user feedback so far is notably positive, the stakes are higher than ever.

In a world where voice assistants are evolving rapidly, the question remains: Is 'pretty good' truly enough? As I wrapped up my testing, it felt like Alexa+ has laid a strong foundation, but it also left me curious about what Amazon has left to unveil.